Marianne

Hi Kate, I've heard that the West London School of Dance boys' classes are enjoyable and challenging. They have more than one level/age group, I think, and are on Thursday evenings. I know several younger boys who *love* them and they take absolute beginners. Also, London Junior Ballet are auditioning for Sept quite soon and they have separate classes for boys too. Hope this helps! Marianne

On the other hand, I know many people have followed Henry Perkins' story with interest and admiration over the past few years, but the most recent article I could find about him highlights the risks of training abroad and bowing out of the British education system entirely -http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2102693_yateley_ballet_dancer_in_benefit_battle I do hope he has recovered and that such a promising career is back on track. Ballet is a brutal business.

Aileen, a few years ago there was a YDA graduate who turned down a place at ENBS to train at the National Ballet School of Cuba - she thrived, I believe, winning awards etc and was apprenticed to ENB when she returned from Cuba. She's since had a change of direction due to injury & gained a place at Cambridge reading Spanish - I imagine she stood out amongst the crowd of identikit UCAS forms!

Wow - congratulations to YDA's William Beagley who has reached the finals of Young British Dancer of the Year (see thread in News section). Such an achievement for all the talented dancers, but especially someone so young and not already at RBS. So good to see students from other schools "in the mix" at YBDY.

I think the generally held opinion is that callback can mean all sorts of things! Maybe they want to have another, closer look at you - members of the panel may have focused on different candidates at different points during the audition and need to look again "as one", or opinion on a particular auditionee may be divided. And I have heard the theory that they sometimes invite "definites" to callback so they can compare the "maybes" against them. So it's definitely no bad thing to be called back - but there are plenty who aren't called back and get that lovely yes letter anyway!